Shark ION P50 Review

One of the most unique stick vacuums I’ve tested is the Shark ION P50.

Unlike other stick vacuums with the motor and dust cup on top, the ION P50 is near the base, making it more comfortable to use when cleaning floors, as most of the weight is at the bottom.

The design allows the P50 to have a larger dirt capacity (more than 2 liters!) than most stick vacuums, making it ideal for cleaning larger spaces.

What can you expect from the Shark ION P50?

I’ve tested most stick vacuums for this blog, utilizing a design similar to a Dyson cordless, with the motor and dust cup situated at the top.

The Shark ION P50 is different as these components are near the base. This design helps lighten the weight on the handle and makes it easier on the arm and wrist.

Essentially, the P50 features the design of an upright vacuum, which means it has a greater dirt capacity than a typical stick vacuum.

Using this cord-free product on floors for extended periods won’t be as tiring due to its low center of gravity and swivel steering.

Powered Lift-Away

One of my favorite features of the ION P50 is the powered, lift-away function. This feature enables consumers to use this product in different modes.

The powered lift-away feature allows the dust canister to be removed from the body while still using the main nozzle.

1. Upright mode: This is the default setting of the P50. Using it in this configuration is like using an upright vacuum.

2. Stick mode: Most upright vacuums cannot go deep under furniture. The ION P50 solves this by separating the canister from the vacuum in stick mode. This configuration removes the dust canister, freeing it from the bulk and allowing the main nozzle to clean under low-profile furniture better.

3. Handheld mode: You can also use this vacuum as a handheld by removing the extension tube and attaching the tools directly to the handle. I like this configuration for cleaning upholstery inside the home or vehicle.

Duo Clean System

One of the best innovations introduced by Shark is the Duo Clean brush roll. Unlike other brands that use the soft roller and bristle brush separately, Shark combines these two components to create a tool that will work great on various surfaces.

The most significant advantage of using this tool is that there’s no need to change floor nozzles on every transition regularly.

This tool can clean rugs, carpets, or hard surfaces.

LED Headlights

To add further to the usability of the Duo Clean head, Shark adds six bright LED bulbs in front.

These LED bulbs illuminate the path in front and help track stuff like dust underneath furniture.

If you haven’t used a vacuum with LED headlights, I believe it will help you clean your home significantly.

Fingertip controls

Shark makes it easy for consumers to toggle between different cleaning modes thanks to the handle’s fingertip controls.

Three different settings include hard floor, carpet, and boost. The two brushes spin most conservatively in the hard floor setting.

In the carpet setting, the brushes will spin at a faster rate, thus increasing the level of agitation.

The boost setting increases airflow to help pick up dirt on more plush carpets.

Please note that in boost mode, you must press the button continuously, especially when using the vacuum in its upright or stick vacuum configuration. Still, without the extension tube or main nozzle in the handheld setting, it automatically goes into boost mode.

Detachable Battery

The P50 features a removable 28.8-volt ION power cord battery that can be charged directly on the vacuum or separately with a portable charger.

This massive battery is why Shark could squeeze that much run time. It does add to the weight of the vacuum. However, since it is located in the lower portion, it doesn’t significantly affect the ergonomics.

Removable makes it easy to replace the battery in case it breaks down. You can purchase an extra battery if the 50-minute advertised run time is too short.

Charging the battery separately will help minimize downtime if you have an extra battery.

Run Time

Shark says the ION battery will run for up to 50 minutes. To verify the accuracy of this figure, I ran the vacuum using the various power settings until the battery was depleted.

Here are the results:

The results with the Duo Clean head aren’t great, but considering the efficiency of the Duo Clean head at picking up debris on carpet and hard surfaces, it is still decent.

In my cleaning tests, the Shark’s dual brush system doesn’t require many passes to pick up dirt, allowing it to cover a lot of ground.

Its handheld setting exceeds the 50-minute claimed run time by 6 minutes.

Dust Cup Capacity

One feature I like with the ION P50 is the extra-large dirt capacity. Shark says it can hold up to 0.54 gallons of dry dirt, which is up to the fill line. Convert it to liters, and it translates to a 2.044-liter capacity, which more than doubles the capacity of the Dyson V11 and that of the Hoover Linx Signature Series.

The beauty of the P50 design lies in how easily it can be emptied of its contents. Most of the dirt will stay at the bottom and won’t stick to the filter in the middle, as it is so narrow.

Even if it lacks a hygienic system, there’s so much working room that it doesn’t need that feature.

Once the trap door opens, most of the dirt, including dust, comes out with a gentle shake.

The dust cup assembly is washable since it contains no electronic components.

Aside from the trap door, you can also open it from the top, making it easier to do a thorough clean when needed.

Anti-Allergen Complete Seal

The anti-allergen system ensures that fine allergens and dust stay inside the bin.

This variant comes with two filters: a pre-motor foam and a post-motor HEPA filter, to ensure the air doesn’t become polluted with the debris you clean.

Please note that only the foam filter is washable, while the HEPA filter is not. However, you can extend the HEPA filter’s service life by cleaning it regularly using a handheld vacuum with a brush tool.

Self-Standing

One of my favorite features of the ION P50 is its self-standing design, which helps store ttols.

It doesn’t require any third-party device or a dock that needs to be bolted to the wall to store vertically.

Power [Airflow]

Unfortunately, manufacturers don’t have a uniform spec that discloses power. Some use watts, while others, like Dyson, use air watts. So, it isn’t easy to compare brands whose products have more power.

Fortunately, some devices help measure vacuum suction. One of these is an anemometer that measures airflow.

I measured airflow on the Shark ION P50 in two areas – at the wand and directly on the main cleaning head.

First, let’s examine the results in various settings.

Airflow measured at the nozzle:

• Floor: 24.8 CFM
• Carpet: 21.77 CFM
• Floor (Boost): 29 CFM
• Carpet (Boost): 27 CFM

Airflow at the wand

• Normal: 31.37 CFM
• Boost: 46.27 CFM

The airflow numbers are just about average when you compare it to other stick vacuums. But the design of the Duo Clean head doesn’t require much airflow to be effective at all.

As shown in the information above, the “floor” setting yields a higher airflow number than the “carpet” setting, regardless of the “boost” or “normal” mode.

I also noticed that Shark decreases the brush roll speed on the “floor” setting and increases it with the “carpet” setting, thus improving agitation, which is why the excellent test result figures.

How does the Shark ION P50 clean?

Realize that the Shark ION P50 is primarily a floor-cleaning tool.

Everything, from the dust cup, motor, and Duo Clean head placement, aims to provide an excellent user experience when cleaning large floor areas.

The powered lift-away system enables this vacuum to reach further underneath furniture than any upright vacuum without this feature.

One advantage of the Shark Lift-Away system is its ability to get completely flat without turning the body sideways, unlike products like the Dyson V8 and Tineco A11.

Since the canister is out of the way, there’s nothing to hinder the main cleaning head.

Central to the cleaning prowess of the P50 is the Duo Clean nozzle that combines a soft roller and bristle brush.

This tool is excellent for cleaning dry dirt from any indoor surface, such as tile, carpet, rugs, hardwood, etc.

The colossal clearance upfront means cleaning extra-large stuff like Fruit Loops won’t be an issue.

Unlike tools that only have the soft roller, the Duo Clean can also fully clean carpet thanks to the second brush with stiff bristles.

It won’t be as effective as a Dyson V11 or Tineco Pure One S12 in terms of deep cleaning, but at least it is above average.

Removing the dust canister allows the device to morph into a stick vacuum with the wand and main cleaning head, or a handheld vacuum without it.

It has three different attachments for cleaning areas above the floors. These attachments are of good quality, but I have one gripe: they lack a quick-release latch.

All the tools will rely on friction and require a little effort to remove. The good news is that Shark uses good-quality plastics, so I don’t think it will be an issue in the long term.

Cleaning Performance

To assess the Shark ION P50’s cleaning performance, I subjected it to our standard tests using various debris types, including Fruit Loops, Quaker Oats, coffee grounds, quinoa, and pet litter.

The duo cleaned the head and did an excellent job on extra-large items, such as Fruit Loops, to dust. It was able to pick nearly everything in its path.

First, let’s look at the overall scores.

• Overall: 89.75%
• Hard Floor: 99.82%
• Carpet (Surface pickup): 99.23%
• Carpet (Deep cleaning): 70.2%

It performed well in all cleaning tests, achieving scores of at least 98%. It predicted predictability better on hard floors, as the Duo Clean works best on this surface.

And it wasn’t too shabby on carpets, as it did very well at surface and deep cleaning tests.

Even with extensive debris tests, it did not experience clogging issues, as the nozzle had ample clearance to accommodate these debris types.

Hard Floor Results

• Quaker Oats: 99.4%
• Coffee: 99.9%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet Litter: 100%

The beauty of the Duo Clean head lies in its versatility, allowing for the cleaning of various surfaces without the need to swap tools. It is one of the best innovations in the last decade for cleaning hard floors.

As you can see in the results, the duo clean nozzle did very well on hard surfaces. It was nearly perfect in all of the tests. Use the hard floor setting, or the soft roller will spin too fast and scatter debris.

I did other tests (not measured) on stuff like dust and Fruit Loops, and it will pick up everything in its path.

The P50 will help keep the floor free from dust buildup if you live in a dusty area. The LED headlights help greatly in tracking dust, especially under furniture.

The duo’s clean head picks up everything on hard surfaces, even in the lowest setting.

Sand on Hard Floor Test

One of the DuoClean nozzle’s greatest strengths is its ability to clean sand on hard floors without splattering it forward, a problem that can occur with other brands using a single roller.

The roller part doesn’t spin as rapidly, only enough to pick up debris. It’s a big reason why it’s my go-to vacuum for cleaning hard surfaces in my home.

For the sand on hard floor test, I scattered 50 grams of sand on a test area. The P50 was able to pick up an average of 99.7% in two tests.

I like the efficiency; it picks up most of it in the forward pass.

Edge cleaning test

This vacuum also did very well in the edge cleaning test, where I scattered pet litter on one corner with a quarter-inch crevice near the wall.

It’s a perfect test spot to see how well a vacuum will clean these areas.

As seen in the before-and-after photos, the P50 picks up most of the debris, even at the quarter-inch crevice.

The best part is the efficiency, as the DuoClean brushes got most of the debris in the initial passes.

It’s one of the best vacuums I’ve tested.

Hair wrap test

One weak spot of the P50 DuoClean head is hair. In this test, up to 7 inches of human hair is wrapped around the brush.

I didn’t bother testing it on carpets, as it will most likely have the same results—nothing wrapped around the roller, as it had the anti-tangle combs. However, the brush does not have an anti-tangle system found in newer Shark vacuums like the APEX Upright, Vertex Cordless, and Uplight with the Zero-M feature.

Carpet Cleaning Test

Next, let’s examine how the ION P50 performed on cleaning low- and mid-pile carpets. Again, I put it through our standard test of the four different types of debris.

Low Pile Results

• Quaker Oats: 98.5%
• Coffee: 100%
• Quinoa: 98.6%
• Pet Litter: 100%

One reason the P50 did not do as well cleaning Quaker Oats and Quinoa is the speed at which the soft roller spins in carpet mode.

Some of the Quaker oats and quinoa were scattered forward, which is a reason for the lower score. It isn’t an issue for cleaning dust, as the soft roller is designed to tackle such tasks.

I’m impressed by how well the Duo Clean picks up surface dirt. It may not be as effective as a Dyson or Tineco in terms of deep cleaning, but it didn’t clog even when cleaning Fruit Loops, which is an issue for most stick vacuums, including those with the soft roller attachment.

Mid Pile Results

• Quaker Oats: 99.2%
• Coffee: 98.1%
• Quinoa: 99.5%
• Pet Litter: 100%

This vacuum scored the lowest when cleaning mid-pile, but it is still in the high 90s, which is a pretty good indicator of how well the duo clean head is designed. It didn’t do as well as the Tineco A11 and the Pure One S12, but it isn’t too far behind.

The P50 is cheaper than these two stick vacuums and an excellent option if you don’t mind not having as many tools.

Deep Cleaning Test

To assess the Shark ION P50’s ability to clean embedded dirt, I applied 100 grams of fine sand to the mid-pile carpet to determine how much it could pick up.

Sand is one of the toughest materials to clean from carpets and is something that Consumer Reports uses to test how well a vacuum picks up on this surface.

I tested it on the default carpet setting and in boost mode. Remember that you’ll have to continually press the boost button to use this setting, at least in the upright configuration.

It was able to pick up an average of 65.9% of sand in the default carpet setting and 74.5 in boost mode. So that is almost a 10% difference with the two settings.

While the Shark ION P50 excels at cleaning surface dirt on carpets, the duo clean head falls short compared to the Dyson V10, V11, Tineco A11, and the Pure One S12 in terms of deep cleaning.

However, the fact that the Duo Clean works well on both surfaces makes it ideal for homes with a mixture of carpet and hard surfaces, or even rugs, because there’s no need to carry an extra tool all the time.

Noise Levels

To measure noise output, I use a sound meter positioned a few feet away from the vacuum in its upright configuration, in various settings. The vacuum is the loudest in this setting, so I think it’s a good baseline figure.

Here are the results:

• Hard floor: 66.4 dB
• Carpet: 70 dB
• Boost: 70.8 dB

I wouldn’t say that the ION P50 is quiet, but it isn’t overly loud. The 66.4-decibel noise level on the hard floor setting is slightly louder than that of the Dyson V8.

However, it’s less noisy in its highest setting at just over 70 decibels in the boost mode versus the Dyson V8 and V10, which easily surpass the 73-decibel mark.

Tools and Attachments

Aside from cleaning floors, the ION P50 can clean upholstery, vents, and other areas above floors thanks to these tools.

1. Upholstery tool: This is an excellent tool for cleaning upholstery, as it features two felt linings on the front and back that provide effective agitation.
2. Dusting brush: Has semi-stiff brushes that clean low-pile carpet or fabric upholstery.
3. Duster crevice tool: This two-in-one attachment combines a crevice and dusting brush. Great for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
4. ION Power Core Charger: The main charger for the ION P50 enables users to charge the battery separately.

However, it lacks a tool caddy or storage for these extra attachments, so you’ll need a designated area to store these tools and avoid misplacing them.

Availability of Parts

There won’t be an issue regarding the availability of parts. Shark has a plethora of parts available on their website or on Amazon.

The battery, soft roller, hose assembly, filter assembly, HEPA filter, and even the filter cover are available on their website.

You can also buy accessories not in the box, such as the anti-allergen brush and under-appliance wand.

Please refer to my guide on removing the Shark’s Duo Clean roller for more details on cleaning the ION P50 brush roll.

Product Specification

Where can I buy the Shark ION P50?

The Shark ION P50 is available for purchase online at retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below to see the latest prices.

• Shark ION P50 on Amazon and Walmart

Please note that if you purchase through the links above, I will earn a commission at no additional cost, making it a win-win for both of us.

Does the Shark ION P50 provide good value?

For its performance and versatility, the Shark ION P50 offers excellent value at its current price.

It’s less expensive than other cordless vacuums with similar performance, such as the Dyson V8, Tineco A11, and Dyson V10.

What I like about the ION P50 is the Duo Clean head, which works well on all surfaces.

It’s one of the best at cleaning debris of various sizes on hard surfaces. Not only will it pick up Fruit Loops, but it can also clean dust exceptionally well.

One of my biggest surprises is how well it does on carpets. It scored higher than expected and didn’t have the snowplowing issues that stick vacuums with low-profile nozzles typically have.

The dust cup is enormous for a cordless vacuum at over 2 liters and larger than any brand I’ve tested.

Despite the bulky canister, it can clean underneath furniture thanks to the powered lift-away system.

5 Reasons Why You Should Consider the Shark ION P50

1. Excellent at cleaning carpets and hard floors: The DuoClean system is one of the best tools for cleaning both hard surfaces and carpets. Since the soft roller and bristle brush are integrated, there’s no need to constantly change tools at every transition.
2. Decent run time: This stick vacuum will run for up to 50 minutes in the hard floor setting, which is more than enough for most cleaning tasks.
3. Lift-away offers a lot of versatility: The powered lift-away feature allows users to use this vacuum in three different configurations. Talk about versatility.
4. Bright LED headlights: These significantly enhance visibility.
5. Easy to empty: The dust cup design, with its capacity and working room, makes disposing of dirt easier, even without the hygienic system.

The Verdict: An Excellent Option for Cleaning Floors

The Shark ION P50 is an excellent option for individuals seeking a versatile upright-like stick vacuum that can effectively clean floors.

With most of the components close to the base, it won’t be as tiring to use to clean floors as a Dyson would.

It doesn’t swivel as well or is as agile, but the large dirt capacity makes up for it since you don’t need to empty it as often.

The powered lift-away allows it to go underneath furniture that most other uprights can’t reach while maintaining the class-leading dirt capacity.

It can also function as a handheld vacuum thanks to the three additional tools in the box.

However, this product has some issues. One is that the extra tools do not have a quick-release latch.

The bulky frame means it won’t be as agile as a Dyson or Tineco. It feels heavier when cleaning carpets in its upright configuration.

Using it in lift-away mode removes some excess weight but becomes too light on hard surfaces.

This product isn’t the best option for pet owners since it lacks the Zero-M feature that prevents hair from wrapping on the brush roll. So you’ll have to look elsewhere if you need something that will work for such.

But it is an excellent option for daily cleaning tasks in high-traffic areas that won’t break the bank.